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Output value for the global NAND flash industry increased 19.6% sequentially to US$10.23 billion in the third quarter of 2016, according to DRAMeXchange.

NAND flash prices rose in the third quarter driven by robust demand for smartphones, said DRAMeXchange. Meanwhile, the overall industry output reduced due to chipmakers' ongoing transition to 3D NAND technology which led to the price rally in the third quarter, DRAMeXchange indicated.

Samsung Electronics remained the leading NAND flash vendor with a 36.6% market share in the third quarter, followed by Toshiba with a 19.8% share and Western Digital (formerly SanDisk) with a 17.1% share, according to DRAMeXchange.

DRAMeXchange expects output value for the global NAND flash industry to reach its peak for 2016 in the fourth quarter.

"The NAND flash market outlook for the fourth quarter of 2016 indicates that NAND flash supply will be under greater strain with the advent of the peak shipment season for end devices," said Sean Yang, research director of DRAMeXchange. "Therefore, contract prices for various NAND flash products will see larger increases, which in turn will take suppliers' revenues and operating margins to new highs for this year."